At the plenary session of the parliament, lawmakers held a highly charged debate under the theme “Corrupt Mongolia,” where the Democratic Party (DP) confronted Prime Minister N.Uchral over allegations of systemic corruption, governance failures, and major state projects. DP members argued that corruption has evolved into a structured and institutionalized system during the past decade of ruling party dominance, and they pressed Prime Minister N.Uchral who also serves as MPP chairman to acknowledge this assessment.
However, instead of a direct acceptance or denial, much of the debate developed into a combination of policy explanations, reform pledges, and political exchanges. DP parliamentary Caucus Chair O.Tsogtgerel opened the debate by directly asking whether Mongolia should be considered a corrupt country. The PM did not give a straightforward “yes” or “no” answer, instead describing corruption as “lost opportunities, unearned income, and unfulfilled aspirations of citizens.”
He introduced his government’s “Four Paths to Freedom” initiative, stating that combating corruption is a core national priority and requires structural reform rather than isolated enforcement actions. Furthermore, N.Uchral emphasized that corruption should not be framed as a partisan issue. He called it “the enemy of all Mongolians” and urged opposition lawmakers to join forces in addressing it. He invited O.Tsogtgerel and others to cooperate in anti-corruption efforts, stressing that no political party is free from the issue.
O.Tsogtgerel, in turn, said the DP is ready to support courageous reform efforts, but insisted that real action, not political rhetoric, is needed. When asked whether he would resign if cabinet members were found involved in corruption cases, the prime minister did not provide a direct answer.
The MP continued to argue that Mongolia has shifted from a free-market economy to one dominated by state involvement and corruption-driven inefficiencies. He cited concerns over thousands of public tenders and ongoing criminal investigations related to procurement.
The PM responded that the government’s goal is to expand private sector participation and reduce state dominance in economic activity. He said that reforms will transfer many services to professional associations and reduce licensing burdens, with over 140 administrative services already being removed or simplified. He added that artificial intelligence and data-driven systems will increasingly be used in procurement and governance to reduce human interference and corruption risks.
MP S.Erdenebold questioned the ruling party’s internal accountability and asked whether political pressure was influencing anti-corruption actions. He referenced earlier party commitments to remove officials linked to wrongdoing. MP O.Shijir delivered a more critical intervention, stating that corruption, once measured in millions, has now escalated into trillions of tugrugs and even hundreds of millions of dollars. He argued that corruption exists primarily within institutions controlling public funds and procurement systems.
MP S.Byambasuren raised concerns about declining public trust, stating that citizens lose confidence when individuals previously associated with corruption cases are seen near government decision-making. He also directly accused the PM of involvement in the so-called small and medium fund scandal. N.Uchral rejected the allegation, stating that all his financial matters are transparent and that he has not benefited from such funds, adding that his family has always lived by honest work.
PM defends reforms and transparency agenda
Responding to criticism, Prime Minister N.Uchral said corruption cannot be reduced by targeting individuals alone. He stressed that systemic reform is necessary and highlighted ongoing digital governance initiatives. He pointed to expanded use of open data platforms, the “Glass Account” system, and E-Mongolia services, claiming that hundreds of datasets and thousands of records have been made publicly accessible to increase transparency. He also stated that classified state information should be significantly reduced, and that a draft law on public information secrecy is being prepared for parliamentary approval. According to him, reducing bureaucracy, digitizing services, and decentralizing authority are key strategies to limit corruption opportunities. MPs also raised questions about budget deficits, rising debt, and declining revenues. The premier acknowledged that the budget deficit had reached over 1.3 trillion MNT, driven by declines in corporate and personal income tax revenues.
He said the government is working on fiscal adjustments and macroeconomic coordination reforms. He also confirmed that fuel prices are expected to remain stable following agreements with Russia, and that no increase is planned in the near term.
He further noted that mortgage loan policy requires reform to better target beneficiaries, as more than 130,000 households have already accessed state-supported housing loans since 2013. Throughout the session, opposition MPs repeatedly challenged the prime minister on whether corruption is centrally managed within the ruling party and whether meaningful structural change is possible without political accountability.
N.Uchral rejected the claim that corruption is managed at the top level, instead arguing that reform must be continuous across institutions and political cycles. He emphasized that accountability mechanisms exist within party and legal structures, and that officials accused of wrongdoing are subject to disciplinary review. He also stated that he would not tolerate corruption regardless of political affiliation and urged MPs to work together beyond party lines. The parliamentary debate ended without consensus on whether Mongolia should be defined as a “corrupt country,” but it highlighted deep divisions between the ruling party and opposition over the scale, causes, and solutions to corruption.
While the DP pressed for direct acknowledgment of systemic failure, Prime Minister N.Uchral emphasized structural reforms, transparency initiatives, and digital governance as the long-term solution.
